When is “Let’s Not” the Right Answer?

I’m on my way to Agile Prague, transiting through JFK. JFK is an older airport and the way you move from a domestic terminal to the international terminal is to take a bus, aka jitney. Yes, they call it a jitney.

The jitney has a ramp so it’s easy for me to get on and off with my rollator. A conductor, standing at the door, announced the gates. He was on my deaf side, so I asked him for verification, and yes, I should get off at the next stop.

I said, “Okay, I’ll wait until everyone else gets off so I don’t hold anyone up.”

He said, “No, I can make everyone wait for you.”

I said, “No, let’s not!” I was more than a little appalled.

He persisted, and I said, “I don’t want these nice people to hate me.” I won that argument. International travel (any travel) is difficult enough. I don’t have to make it difficult for other people.

As one of the other passengers exited, he said, “Thank you!” and squeezed my arm.

I stood as the remaining three or four people walked off. I turned to exit down the ramp. There was a woman on the ground, half on the ramp, with her suitcase blocking my way.

There was a woman on the ground, half on the ramp, with her suitcase blocking my way. I said, “Excuse me, please move so I can exit.” She walked up the ramp to squeeze beside me onto the jitney.

LIke I said, international travel is a challenge.

I didn’t want you to wait for next week for this question. The question today is: When is “Let’s Not” the right answer?